Is It Fall Yet?

Tuesday night at our Laurel Highlands Toastmasters meeting, our word of the day was “sabbatical”. The meaning of the word is a rest or break from work; “an extended period of time intentionally spent on something that’s not your routine job.” I learned of the word when I was in school, as teachers would sometimes take a sabbatical of one year. 

While at the meeting, I thought of my own sabbaticals that I’ve taken from work. It may not have been an entire year, but just a week. Regardless, it was a period of time for me to recharge. After being off, I would soon be ready to get back into my routine. On Friday, my niece will be going back to school to begin seventh grade after a nice, long summer break. 

My most recent vacation took place at the end of June. During that time, I went to Bites and Pints at Kennywood, while having one of my experiences there since the pandemic. The next day I had Summer TLI at WCCC and had a great time there while learning and networking with other Toastmasters. I wowed everyone with my outfit as well. The summer break for me was a time of relaxation, celebration, and reflection on days gone by. It was the success of finishing President’s Distinguished at Laurel Highlands or celebrating a newly chartered Toastmasters club in Morgantown. It was a drive up to Slippery Rock University to reflect on my time there. This fall marks 20 years since I graduated college. While Homecoming used to be a regular event for me, I took some time off in 2019 just as we were about to go into lockdown mode during COVID a year later. This visit will be a good one for me and I’m able to go since it’s during my vacation week. October looks to be a busy time for me and I’ll get into that as we go through this blog.

As vacation began to wind down, I treated myself to some retail therapy at South Hills Village. I bought some summer scented hand soap at Bath and Body Works as well as some reading material from Barnes and Noble (that I’ll likely get to read this Fall). I also checked out some cool stores like Miniso, which we also have at our mall, and of course Old Navy. I settled for comfort food at Eat’n Park which was fine, but could have improved the end of my visit by eating at a new place like Noodles and Company or Condado Tacos. Nothing major, just food for thought. 

Lord, I pray that You grant me patience over the next couple of months, so I don’t burn out on all the things I’m looking forward to or set myself up for disappointment. It’s hard to wait sometimes though. Next vacation is coming in just under two months, but there’s a lot to look forward to between now and October. 

During this week off, I’ll celebrate Annabelle’s ascent into her teen years and spend quality time with family at Laurel Hill. I’ll also attend some Toastmasters clubs in person or online (Johnstown and Greensburg in person, Cranberry High Noon and the new Country Roads club online). I’m planning to visit a museum in Pittsburgh (I’m trending towards going to the Warhol). To wrap up the week off, I’ll be driving up to Slippery Rock for homecoming and commemorate 20 years since I graduated college. 

Next Tuesday marks 25 years since I moved into my dormitory at the Hiram G. Andrews Center. The weekend that I moved into the school I watched a special episode of Daria on MTV called, “Is It Fall Yet?”

Before Fall begins and October gets here, there’s still plenty to look forward to, like the launch of the new Fall menu at Cutie’s in a couple of weeks. I have to hit up Market District for some Fall flavors. I’m also looking forward to the start of the college football and NFL seasons as well. Hey, there is September in between all this excitement as well and, I hope to attend some speech contests during this time before the Fall Symposium takes place on October 25.

It’s still Summer, but Fall and Pumpkin Spice is coming!

Need a Vacation at Laurel Highlands Toastmasters?

My feature presentation will begin shortly, but I want to start off this blog by mentioning the reboot of King of the Hill. The show was on FOX for many years and came to an end in 2010. There was talk of reviving the show (just like everything else that gets brought back). I watched the first two episodes the day it premiered on HULU and was happy with the product. Now some characters aren’t coming back for obvious reasons but there’s a story behind their departure. I won’t spoil the show for anyone but six episodes in, I like what I’ve seen and hope there’s a second season in the works. I’m not a binge person and only watch a few episodes a day, and plan to finish the season by the end of the month. Now onto my recap of last night’s Laurel Highlands Toastmasters meeting. 

Our Laurel Highlands Toastmasters meeting on Tuesday ended up being a virtual meeting. It wasn’t a weather related call, despite the excessive heat, but it was because our meeting room wasn’t available. I served as General Evaluator (signing up at the eleventh hour). In my report, I praised our President for getting the word out about the meeting being 100% online and doing it on very short notice. 

We had a great agenda planned, once we filled all the roles. We also moved some roles around. Our word of the day was sabbatical, and the theme was “Need a Vacation?”. I learned that a vacation is more than a trip and has many different meanings. I’ll be taking my next sabbatical in October. 

Our three speakers prepared great speeches for us to hear and our evaluators to give feedback on. I learned some life lessons and the importance of “Failing Forward” from Cosmas. “The Space Between”, from our VP Membership Helene, taught me that waiting isn’t always a bad thing. The fact that you don’t see progress doesn’t mean that growth isn’t happening. Our last speaker was our newest member, Will, and he gave his ice breaker and talked about “The Will to Lead”. Three things he talked about was growing up in the trucking industry (third generation), fatherhood, and getting back up after falling down. Each of us have a purpose of which we are all worthy. 

Props to VP Education Cosmas for putting some great insight in the chat. One thing he mentioned in “Failing Forward” was about our club and how Laurel Highlands is going for Smedley Distinguished in 2025-2026. We need 17 for Distinguished and our Club Success Plan has been sent in. We need 25 members and all ten goals to reach the mountaintop. We’ll get there.

I love our area and how it’s tri-state with Laurel Highlands, Western Maryland, and Country Roads forming a Triangle. But you can’t forget about Achievers, either. Autumn, the area 23 Director, is doing a great job leading her club and her area contest will be August 30. I can’t promise I’ll be there in person but I’ll be in Spirit. It will be in Morgantown, home of the new Country Roads Toastmasters club. It has some great contestants so far. 

Even though I’ve been gone from WIS since 2021, I still have good memories of all the places we traveled to. That includes places like Connellsville, Morgantown, and even LaVale and Cumberland, home to this trio of amazing Toastmasters clubs. 

Our Table Topics were centered around vacation, and we had full participation. Our Topicsmaster Sharon came up with some great questions related to vacation. My question was, “If you had to take a vacation right now and everything was taken care of, where would you go?” I answered with Cape May. It’s been several years since I visited the Jersey Shore and I’m due to go to the beach sometime soon. I might be considering Delaware next summer, spending time at Bethany Beach.

We wrapped up the meeting on time, planning the agenda for our next meeting on August 26. I gave a thorough evaluation, and called for the timer and grammarian/ah counter report. Three speakers are lined up, myself included. Since this is an anniversary for me, my speech will be about the day that I checked into my college dorm at the Hiram G. Andrews Center in Westmont, a suburb of Johnstown. That Tuesday marks 25 years exactly. If there’s time, I may also talk about my first semester. 

Sharing our Stories at Cutie’s Bible Study!

Last August, I began my magnificent speaking streak in my Toastmasters meetings. It was good therapy for me as I shared my story as it began to elevate my mood, which had been down for most of the year and the first month of Summer. During the summer of 2024, I also began to attend a new Bible Study at the newest coffee shop in town. That place has become my go-to place for great coffee though I love to go anywhere in Greensburg. 

Monday night, at the latest edition of Cutie’s Bible Study, I hoped to restart my magnificent walk with God like I did my speech streak. I walked away from the church a few years ago as I needed time to heal and find myself. 

On social media last week, I read a post on the Cutie’s Bible Study page. This Monday’s meeting would be different from the others. For me, it brought back memories of my college days, when I began to attend Bible Study while living at the Hiram G. Andrews Center. I’ll be talking about the school in my August 26 speech at Laurel Highlands Toastmasters as I celebrate 25 years since checking into the school and beginning my ascent into higher learning. 

From HGAC and the local community college, it was onto Slippery Rock University where I planned to achieve my Bachelor’s Degree. While at “The Rock”, I attended many Campus Crusade meetings and participated in events through the organization. Hearing everyone share their stories brought back memories of when we shared our faith in the inner city part of DC. It also made me think of doing the same thing trying to win souls on the beach at Panama City Beach during Big Break in the mid-2000’s. I enjoyed everyone that went into those events, and didn’t know what to do when college came to an end. Just as I found my stride, it was time to graduate. But I digress as this is starting to veer off course. 

I like to joke that if Campus Crusade meetings were their own major, then I might have graduated Magna Cum Laude. I’ve been following God since 2000, giving my life to God the first time in 2001 at a function held at Pitt-Johnstown. But my walk hasn’t really been my own. In all my years, I feel like I’ve gone through the motions. My walk with God has felt like a standard Steelers season with ore than a dash of Tomlin Specials. Monday night had me feeling hopeful that I could start something with God again. I took a break in 2021 when I walked away from the church after a falling out. I was at the onset of major changes occurring in my life. I stayed away for a few years to heal from those hurts (as I just posted at the beginning). I’ve gone back a few times but nothing has stuck. Perhaps, I enjoy licking my wounds. 

Keys to victory in getting back into my walk with God include the need to be true to myself, just as I’ve been doing in my gender nonconforming journey. Does that still exist? Yes, it does but another story for another time. I also need to remember to love unconditionally. I think politics has been a major factor in me being away as I’ve felt afraid and even ostracized. I have to beat that urge to change for anyone to please them. Also, I need to keep tabs on my own behavior. 

Aside, it was nice to begin the night with an old school worship song by Matt Redman, thus coming back to “The Heart of Worship”. 

I had hopes that Monday night was the lift that I needed to start my walk with God again. The seeds have been planted and it’s up to me to make sure that harvest is a success. 

Bible Study with a Twist!

On Monday night at Cutie’s, it’s another Bible Study meeting and the weather is looking good. Though it will be humid outside, it’s looking dry. The forecast doesn’t call for rain until midweek. While it will be the usual meeting agenda, there will be a time for those attending to share something with the group. 

If we have a testimony, revelation, a passage from the Bible that is on our hearts, a word of encouragement or a gift to share, we have an opportunity to share it with the group Monday night. A portion of the study Monday night, we will have the floor (or parking lot) to share what’s on our hearts. 

Speaking in front of a group and sharing my story? I do that in Toastmasters, so in a way this will help me show off my skills. Ministering to others? This brings me back to past Campus Crusade events like Christmas Conference and Big Break. It’s a step of faith, but I was able to share my story with some inner city people in DC and students on Spring Break at Panama City Beach.

It’s led me to think about my spiritual journey over time, as I near 25 years having been a believer in Christ. When I went off to college is when it started. I started going to church when I was a student (I attended two churches in Johnstown over the three years that I was there). I continued my walk with God when I came to Slippery Rock in the Fall of 2003. 

While I’ve been a believer for a long time, I’ve had my flaws and I haven’t made it my own journey. Not wanting to go into detail, I do things a little bit differently. I left the church in 2021 after a difference in opinion over how I was dressing. This was a couple of months before I got hired at Giant Eagle. The events are unrelated. I shouldn’t have left over something so stupid, and I do need to drop past events that happened years ago.

When I read about this upcoming Bible Study and sharing something with the group, it opened something in me that’s been nonexistent for a long time. While I don’t expect a miracle, I should pray about Monday night and hope this is the lift that I need to get back into a relationship with God and back into the church.

My First Raising Cane’s Visit!

On Monday, my mother went to Trader Joe’s in East Liberty as well as Raising Cane’s for lunch. Hearing this, I had to try it out for myself and I did so Friday.

Raising Cane’s recently opened in North Versailles a couple of years ago. Other locations in the Pittsburgh area include Bridgeville, Oakland, and Pleasant Hills. The first Raising Cane’s opened on August 28, 1996. That’s the day after I started high school and, I’m getting close to publishing my 828th blog. Look for that sometime this Fall.

At one time, a Fifth Third Bank occupied the space (briefly followed by First National Bank). It was abandoned for a few years before Raising Cane’s went up. Many years ago, the space was occupied by KFC and Long John Silver’s. The Goodwill that’s next to Raising Cane’s was a former Ames and before that, Hills. There’s a lot of history to be had in this area. You can’t forget about the Greater Pittburgh Drive-In which stood for many years. That old drive-in became a Wal-Mart in the late 1990’s. Inside the Raising Cane’s was a sign from the old drive-in. The back story on how the chain started is interesting too. Check out the website to learn more.

I ordered the Three Finger Combo, which comes with crinkle-cut fries and Texas Toast and a fountain drink. Crinkle-cut fries are my second favorite french fry with steak fries placing number one. Red Robin’s steak fries rock, especially with the seasoning salt. Cane’s has plenty of outdoor seating perfect for warm weather days, and shade as well to keep you cool. I took advantage of the amenities and watched the world go by. The food was pretty good, and they give you plenty of fries. You get the most for your money. Over a 4.5/5. Maybe I’ll check out one of the other locations another time, either Pleasant Hills or Bridgeville.

I made it an afternoon and spent some time at White Oak Park. On the way down, I drove past the Amazon facilities (where Eastland Mall once was). Next to Cane’s is an old Ponderosa that has been abandoned for a long time. There was a time when I made this commute almost every day when I worked for WIS and drove out to the other side of Pittsburgh. Those days are over.

As for White Oak Park, it’s a nice little park located just off US 48. It has a playground and a pavilion. I walked over to the crick and wanted to make sure I didn’t see any snakes. I took some time to get some sun and write this blog, so it was a nice way to spend my Friday afternoon.

Making Greensburg Toastmasters Fun Again!

Last night we held our Greensburg Toastmasters meeting back at the courthouse after going 100% virtual last time. We had eight in attendance, four in person and four online. Two of the attendees were District Leaders, that being our Area 24 Director and our Program Quality Director. I was able to give our Area Director the meeting time and the Zoom link for our meeting as it was his official area visit. While we have our dedicated members, we need to get membership up in order to qualify for not just Distinguished, but Smedley Distinguished. We started that process by working on the Club Success Plan and will have that submitted by the September 30 deadline. 

We had two speakers on the agenda and they did well. Sam spoke first and asked us, “What Slows You Down?”. I’ll answer this question myself momentarily. Jim spoke about the events leading up to his knee replacement surgery. Both speakers will continue their presentations at our August 20 meeting. With heading to Philadelphia for the International Convention, I’ll be evaluating the second part of Jim’s speech next meeting. 

At our officers’ meeting, we discussed the Club Success Plan, as I alluded to earlier. My plans between now and the end of 2025 are to finish Levels 4 and 5 in my Presentation Mastery path. In addition, we also did a SWOT analysis for our club. We are a tight knit group and we have our core members who attend regularly. While we are a great club, we can most definitely use new members who we can groom as future leaders for our club. We may bring back the Moments of Truth as a Table Topics session this Fall, as well. 

We need to work on inviting people to our meetings and the website needs to be updated. That has been addressed and we’re working on that. Greensburg is the county seat of Westmoreland County and we can definitely attract new members. I can talk up Toastmasters at Bible Study Monday night and promote it on Facebook as well as this blog, as I’m doing right now. 

I believe we’ll be Smedley Ready by June 30 and have this club booming!

The answer to the question, “What Slows Me Down?” is distractions, plain and simple. What better place to find distractions than on social media. I’m not knocking it as social media can be very useful. But it is also a double-edged sword. 

The “socials”, as like to refer to them, have their positives and negatives. 

The positives of social media are: 

  • That you can find out about an event at one of your favorite places (Cutie’s 2nd Birthday, Fall menu launch).
  • Get news or weather on the go.

The negatives of social media are: 

  • Views which may be different than yours.
  • Looking at people’s profiles and realizing that your life isn’t as good.

I know there’s many answers but I chose a few. One for me is that I like people to make a fuss over me and when I don’t get attention, I get discouraged. The story of my fashion journey. *Sigh*

Finally, I ate a pre-Toastmasters dinner at Kings Family Restaurant in Hempfield. I figured I want to enjoy a meal here while there’s still time, you don’t know what you got until it’s gone. I still hope that Kevin and I can meet here in September. From the marquee, it said that wraps were the feature item. I took advantage and ordered a Buffalo Chicken Wrap. My meal was good and the service was excellent. I saw the employees all working and doing a great job. 

A once vibrant chain with over 30 locations has dwindled down to three. 

Raising Cane’s tomorrow!

Erie Week

Tonight is our first Greensburg Toastmasters meeting in three weeks and first in person since the beginning of July. The extra week always throws me off and it will be the same feeling in a week at our Laurel Highlands meeting. I just get busy with other things and forget what I’m supposed to do for whatever club. I still get it done last minute though. I am scheduled to be Table Topics Master at Greensburg tonight, and will reschedule my speech at Laurel Highlands for the next meeting on August 26. That is a very special day for me as it’s a big anniversary. It’s the date that I checked in at the Hiram G. Andrews Center. How appropriate to use that day give a speech about big change in my life. Going off to college and being on my own is definitely a relevant topic.

Summer vacation is winding down for most kids and parents as school starts in the next few weeks. This week my family is taking a road trip to Erie. It’s more of a mini-vacation. I won’t highlight the trip too much, so I’ll highlight one of my first time visiting the City by the Lake. It was the summer of 1997, and we drove up for a day before coming back the next day. We stayed at a two-star motel called the El Patio. This place is long gone and has been replaced by a Sheetz.

In the evening, we took a boat ride and got a guided tour of the Lake. We headed back home the next day but not without shopping in Grove City. This trip wasn’t just an one day excursion to Erie, it was also my introduction to outlet shopping. Fun fact: Erie is where KDKA meteorologist Ray Petelin worked before coming down I-79 to Pittsburgh in 2011. Hey Ray!

Shit’s getting real at my store as Fall is beginning to take over. We’re going from peak to past peak on summer and it’s past peak for summer vacation. I saw pumpkin flavored Pop Tarts. Starbucks and Dunkin’ have their Fall coffee on display (near Bakery and as you walk in to the store). Green Mountain and McCafe also have theirs in Dairy, and don’t forget the Halloween and Fall-themed cereals.

I’ll be planning a Pumpkin Spice shopping spree within the next week or two. What better place to shop than Market District? Road trip coming soon! Maybe that new store in East Liberty will be opening soon (at that new shopping center at Shady and Penn where the old Giant Eagle was).

Driving Up the Mountain: 25 Years Later!

It’s hard to believe, but later this month will be 25 years since we packed up my things and checked me into my dorm room at the Hiram G. Andrews Center in Westmont, just outside of Johnstown. That weekend was a changing of the guard as I would be away from my home for the first time in my life. I’d still come home over the weekend but during the week I’d live at the school and take my classes. 

That Saturday we drove up to the school and got me checked in. My aunt and sister drove to Ames just down the road (remember them) to pick up hangers so I could hang my clothes on something. That night we ate dinner at Ryan’s by the Galleria. That place is gone and the Galleria has really changed as malls have been on the way out. I’m really dating myself, but Richland Mall was still around in 2000, though just the K-Mart and Ames were the only stores still open. 

It was hard for both my mother and me as we parted ways that weekend. We were both dealing with a new season in our lives. I would be home for the holiday weekend on Friday. 

Fun fact: the resident assistant who did my paperwork and checked me in is still at the school, albeit in a different position. 

While I was going to give a speech next Tuesday at Laurel Highlands, I think I like to postpone it until the next meeting on August 26. I’m going to speak about my first semester at HGA, and what better day to speak about it than the exact day that I moved in and started to live life on my own? 

It didn’t have to happen, and I was more than qualified to attend the local community college. I couldn’t leave this out of the speech but my mom thought it was better for me to attend HGA so I could learn to be independent. It was a decision that has shaped me into who I am today. I joke that while Slippery Rock was a great experience, HGA has the upper hand. 

I’ll have plenty more content for this speech in a few weeks, but I feel that this is a start. I can also add more to future blog posts as I consider making this a weekly blog series. Going off to college is a big transition and it definitely was for me in 2000, as I had only been a social person for a few years at this point. But even then, I was dealing with anxiety (which had been a big thing for me in my late teens and throughout my 20’s). It’s a subject that I’ll save for a different blog post down the road, but still it’s something that I wanted to share here. This affects how I present myself even in 2025 and it’s a side of me you may not have seen. Once I collect some facts, I can share this with Dr. Liz, who has her own mental health podcast. 

While Fall is popping up and it’s tempting, I’m waiting until the end of the month to have my first Pumpkin Spice Latte. I am getting excited for the launch into Fall coffee and cooler weather.

Greensburg Night Market/Coffee Bean Visit!

Being the last Thursday of the month, Greensburg held its monthly night market. That meant downtown was going to be packed. The growth of this event has been so phenomenal over the last few years. I went a few times in 2020 to support small businesses during COVID, as the local restaurants and shops needed a lifeline more than ever. 

No doubt, it was a crowded house Thursday. I got there around 6:45 and stayed until 8:30, picking up the shuttle at the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center. I still enjoyed myself even though I didn’t stick around for the whole time. I walked the four blocks, just browsing. While it’s a good way to get your steps (slowly), it’s also nice to shop. 

The night market has food trucks, multiple stops for beer and even coffee. You can buy all sorts of things from plants and healthy juice (kombucha) to home decor and pet accessories. During this time, the shops and cafes will be open, so you can get deals and grab a bite to eat, as the foot traffic from the market adds to their business. 

The next time I plan to visit, I could have had a plan for what I wanted to shop for and where I wanted to eat. Past night market trips had me eating an amazing grilled cheese from the Pickled Chef. Also, doing my research and knowing what I wanted to buy would make for less time walking around feeling lost. These minor improvements will make for a better experience next time I want to go. I would like to go again at the end of October if my schedule agrees. 

Other upcoming markets this weekend include the Vintage Market on Sunday at St. Clair Park, and the First Sunday Market at Bella Terra Vineyards in Hunker. The next Greensburg Night Market is August 28, and the Cutie’s Market is August 31. 

“The Next Day….” (in Spongebob Narrator voice)

Training camp is in full swing now at Saint Vincent College. Local coffee shop Coffee Bean Cafe (located on the westbound side of US 30) not only serves amazing coffee, but sandwiches and pastries as well as other food and merchandise. 

I had one of those Steeler-themed coffee drinks on my radar. The next time I visit, I’d like to treat myself to breakfast. A sandwich or bagel with cream cheese would be perfect. I enjoyed my Black’n Gold Brew as there was a nice variety of drinks. This place gave me some Rooster’s vibes. Rooster’s was the coffee shop I went to in Slippery Rock back in June during my vacation. 

With my drink halfway done, I took it with me and drove off to my next destination. Ligonier was quiet and not too crowded for the first day of August. I read a few pages in “Becoming” and the jazz playlist I found en route to my Laurel Highlands adventure was perfect for the cooler, less humid weather that ushered in August. It’s funny how we welcomed that June warmth after that damp, cool May, yet that 73 degree day on Friday was just right. If you love it hot, don’t worry, we’re back to the summer heat next weekend. There’s still plenty of summer left. 

Even a quick stop in Ligonier can be therapeutic. It’s fun to walk around, shop, or grab a bite to eat. But, even watching the world go by while sitting in the Diamond has its perks. It’s still summer, but Fall will eventually get here, and that means Fort Ligonier Days in October, before the gazebo gets decorated for Christmas, and families and couples schedule holiday photo shoots in the Diamond. 

I wrapped up my adventure with a trip down PA 711 through Stahlstown and then on to PA 31 very close to Donegal. I could have turned left and come out right by the Sheetz. I passed through the main drag of Mount Pleasant before making my way home on US 119. 

The end of this month marks 25 years since my arrival at HGA to begin my ascent into higher learning, and I’ll definitely have a piece about that in this blog.

At my Wits’ End at Cutie’s Bible Study!

Don’t let the title of my blog post fool you, as I had a good time at Bible Study at Cutie’s Monday night. For the first time since early June, we were able to have everything outside. It may have been humid but the weather worked in our favor. 

The title of Monday night’s message was “I’m at my Wits’ End”. We opened our bibles to Psalm 107, verses 24-30. For those of us who were experiencing frustration and ready to give up, this message was for us. While listening to Trevor speak, I thought about a time when I was confused or puzzled about my direction in life. Look no further than my early post-academia days, during a global pandemic,  or as I was transitioning into my current job. 

I had just hit my stride at Slippery Rock and had begun to find myself, when I had graduated from college. In the latter years of my time at WIS, I was breaking away from the traditional way of doing things just as COVID hit (in 2020) and as we were getting ready to merge (2021). By the time I found myself, I left and had to establish myself at Giant Eagle. As I was torn from those whom I considered family, I also found myself at my wits’ end as I needed their encouragement and approval. As 2025 is past the halfway point, I need to work on self-love more than ever. 

I’ve dealt with a lot of trials over the course of my life and still do. But I’ve also had a lot of victories. All of these have been big and small. No matter the size of the loss or trial, or the victory, it’s important to give thanks to God for all of these t things.  

The next Bible Study is August 11. In the upcoming month, I want to study the Gospels and the book of Proverbs, in addition to my other reading. 

As the Fall menu launches on August 31, maybe a sneak peak is in the future. I hope to try the Blueberry Cinnamon Toast Crunch Latte and maybe another refresher. I’m also planning on visiting a few cafes in August, including Friday’s visit to the Coffee Bean Cafe in Latrobe where I will have one of their training camp specials (the Toasted Touchdown looks good, as well as the Terrible Tiramisu and Black and Gold Brew).